Saturday's local interest college basketball: Hokies pull away from BC; Hampton men fall to Morgan State

Compiled by Daily Press, Associated Press

Justin Bibbs scored 13 points, getting seven with a four-point play and a 3-pointer 27 seconds later, as Virginia Tech won 91-75 at Boston College on Saturday.

Bibbs’ key stretch capped a game-breaking 21-6 run that further boosted Tech’s hopes of its first NCAA tournament bid since 2007. Zach LeDay led the Hokies (20-8, 9-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 18 points. Ty Outlaw had 16 and Seth Allen 15.

Jerome Robinson scored 25 and Ky Bowman added 16 for the Eagles (9-20, 2-14), who have lost 12 straight.

The Hokies broke a 50-all tie when Justin Robinson hit the first of two free throws that triggered the key run.

Following a driving basket by Allen, BC's Mo Jeffers was whistled for a technical when he slammed the ball to the floor after being called for a blocking foul. Allen then hit two free throws and LeDay had a three-point play, making it 56-50.

CAPTION

UVA had a devastating defeat to #16 Maryland Baltimore County in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Charlotte on Friday, 17, 2018. Final score 74-54.

UVA had a devastating defeat to #16 Maryland Baltimore County in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Charlotte on Friday, 17, 2018. Final score 74-54.

CAPTION

UVA had a devastating defeat to #16 Maryland Baltimore County in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Charlotte on Friday, 17, 2018. Final score 74-54.

UVA had a devastating defeat to #16 Maryland Baltimore County in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Charlotte on Friday, 17, 2018. Final score 74-54.

Hokies' Justin Robinson talks about the charge he was called for that caused him to foul out in Tech's NCAA tournament loss to Alabama, and the technical foul called on coach Buzz Williams

Hokies' Justin Robinson talks about the charge he was called for that caused him to foul out in Tech's NCAA tournament loss to Alabama, and the technical foul called on coach Buzz Williams

CAPTION

Providence senior (and Kecoughtan grad) Rodney Bullock talks about his game-winning layup against USC two years ago in the NCAA tournament.

Providence senior (and Kecoughtan grad) Rodney Bullock talks about his game-winning layup against USC two years ago in the NCAA tournament.

The Hokies capped the run when Outlaw had a 3-pointer from the left corner, Bibbs converted a four-point play after he nailed a 3 and was fouled by A.J. Turner, and Bibbs followed with another 3 from the top of the key.

There was a moment in the first half when nearly all 10 of the players on the court hit the floor during a long scramble for a loose ball. The ball rolled from inside the 3-point line before it was tied up at midcourt.

Norfolk State 75, Howard 63: On their Senior Night, the Spartans held off Howard in the second half before pulling away late at Echols Hall.

The Spartans never led by double digits until there was less than three minutes left. Four players scored in double figures for the Spartans, who moved closer to securing the No. 2 seed in the MEAC tournament.

NSU overcame a 28-point night from Howard's Charles Williams, who shot 10 of 25 from the floor and 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Howard also held a 48-37 edge on the glass, including 23-8 in offensive rebounds, but was never able to take advantage.

The Bison shot just 33 percent compared to 48 percent for NSU.

Senior Jonathan Wade had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for NSU, his sixth double-double in seven games. The victory improved Norfolk State's record to 15-14 overall and 12-3 in the MEAC. NSU can finish no worse than third in the league and can lock up second place with a win Monday at Hampton.

Rhode Island (19-9, 11-5) is tied with Richmond for third place in the Atlantic 10. The loss dropped VCU (23-6, 13-3) into second, a game behind No. 1 Dayton. Those two teams face each other Wednesday in Ohio.

Both teams averaged 35 percent shooting from the floor but Rhode Island had an edge (79-67 percent) from the foul line. URI outrebounded VCU 48-31.

Rhode Island opened the second half on an 18-4 run capped by back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers -- two by Terrell and one by E.C. Matthews -- to take a 51-38 advantage with 14:23 to play. The hosts led the rest of the way in the all-Rams clash.

Marshall Wood's 3-pointer with 10:30 left before halftime put Richmond up 18-13, and the Spiders outscored Fordham 22-7 to end the half. The Rams' smallest second-half deficit was 13 points.

T.J. Cline scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting and ShawnDre' Jones chipped in 11 points for Richmod. The Spiders were 27 for 54 from the field, including 9 for 25 from 3-point range. The Spiders distributed 21 assists to just seven for Fordham.

No. 6 North Carolina 85, Pittsburgh 67: The Tar Heels clinched at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title with a road win.

While Justin Jackson scored points - including two deep, contested 3-pointers that bookended a 10-0 run to end the first half - the Tar Heels sent a bigger message at the other end of the court.

Three weeks after surviving a serious scare by Pitt in Chapel Hill, UNC held the Panthers to 40 percent shooting and didn't let them within single digits over the final 16 minutes.

The Tar Heels (25-5, 13-3) have won four straight following a loss to archrival Duke two weeks ago and can wrap up their second straight ACC regular-season crown and 31st overall with a win at No. 18 Virginia on Monday.

No. 19 Florida State 76, Clemson 74: The Seminoles (23-6, 11-5) rallied after leading most of the way. They came into Littlejohn Coliseum just 2-5 on the road in league play, including losses in their past two such games, at Notre Dame and at Pittsburgh.

But Xavier Rathan-Mayes hit the go-ahead basket with 1:22 left and Florida State hung on. He scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.

Jonathan Isaac of Florida State blocked Shelton Mitchell's drive with 11 seconds left after Rathan-Mayes' final basket. After Trent Forrest made a free throw for the Seminoles, Marcquise Reed came up short on a mid-range jumper with 5 seconds to go, and the Seminoles held on to win their 23rd game in the regular season for the first time in eight years.

Clemson (14-14, 4-12) fell to 1-9 in ACC games decided by six points or fewer.

While another week remains in SEC play for both teams, the Wildcats (24-5, 14-2) took an important step by twice rallying from eight points down to win the pivotal matchup. Monk scored 14 points during an 18-10 run that tied the game at 55 with 9:54 remaining.

Adebayo scored six straight points before Monk added seven more in between lobbing a pass to Adebayo for a 70-60 lead with 4:04 left.

Monk sandwiched two free throws around layups by Isaiah Briscoe and Adebayo, points that proved critical in thwarting rally attempts by the Gators (23-6, 13-3).

No. 12 West Virginia 61, Texas Christian 60: Daxter Miles Jr. made a free throw with 4.8 seconds left in Fort Worth, Texas, and WVU stayed in second place in the Big 12.

Miles went to the free-throw line after a questionable foul against Jaylen Fisher, who never left the ground and appeared to make only slight incidental contact with Miles.

TCU (17-12, 6-10), which had tied the game on Alex Robinson's free throw with 9.1 seconds left, had one more chance, but Desmond Bane's 3-pointer at the buzzer was short.

The Mustangs (25-4, 15-1 American Athletic Conference) won their 11th straight and haven't lost since Jan. 12 at Cincinnati. Semi Ojeleye had 16 points, Ben Moore added 15 and Sterling Brown had 11 for SMU.

The Huskies (14-14, 9-7), who have dropped two straight after a four-game winning streak, were led by Kentan Facey's 15 points.

The lead went back and forth until Gustys rebounded a Wright-Foreman miss and found Jamall Robinson open for a 3-pointer that put Hofstra ahead for good, 59-57, with 3:37 left. A similar scenario happened again a minute later when Wright-Foreman rebounded his own miss; the ball was whipped around the perimeter to Brian Bernardi, who hit a key 3.

JMU battled back to 69-66 on a Tom Vodanovich putback with 13 seconds left, but Eli Pemberton stretched the lead with two free throws and the Dukes missed twice in the last five seconds. Shakir Brown led JMU with 20 points.

Both teams will have to play Friday in the CAA tournament in Charleston, S.C., falling below the six teams who earned byes to the quarterfinals. Hofstra (15-16, 7-11) is the eighth seed and faces No. 9 Delaware. JMU (9-22, 7-11) remained the No. 7 seed and meets No. 10 Drexel.

UNCW (26-5, 15-3), which had already sealed the No. 1 seed in the upcoming CAA tournament, reached several milestones: First, the Seahawks clinched the outright conference title over the College of Charleston. Second, the 26 wins are the most in UNCW history, and its 13 home wins are likewise a school record.

Still, if the Seahawks don't win the CAA tournament, they could miss the NCAA tournament and end up in the National Invitation Tournament.

UNC Asheville 63, Liberty 45: Ahmad Thomas scored 31 points and ended the game with consecutive 3-pointers in Saturday's windup of the Big South regular season.

UNCA (23-8, 15-3) is assured of no worse than a tie for first place in the Big South. Winthrop (14-3 in the league) faced last-place Presbyterian (1-16) later Saturday.

Liberty (19-12, 14-4) fell out of a first-place tie into third place and was denied its first 20-win regular season since 2008-09. Both teams get a bye into the quarterfinals.

Liberty closed to within 42-40 with just less than nine minutes left when Myo Baxter-Bell sank two free throws. Within two minutes, however, the Bulldogs led by 10 after MaCio Teague's two free throws and six points from Thomas.

College of Charleston 80, Drexel 67: Jarrell Brantley scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four steals, Joe Chealey added 16 points and three steals, and the host Cougars won their fourth straight.

Elon got 58 of its 81 points from its bench, led by Thompson, who hit 7 of 12 from the field and 7 of 8 from the line. Dainan Swoope contributed 14 points off the bench. No Elon starter scored in double figures.

No. 5 seed Elon (18-13, 10-8) will face William and Mary in a CAA quarterfinal Friday at North Charleston Coliseum.

ODAC tournament: Virginia Wesleyan, usually a fixture in the NCAA Division III tournament, saw its season end at 19-9 in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament semifinal at Salem Civic Center.

The fifth-seeded Marlins took a 16-point lead but eventually fell 67-64 to top-seeded Guilford. Andre Banks had 15 points, while Kecoughtan High graduate Kaelin Poe had a team-high six rebounds in his final game with the Marlins.

Jaylen Long led No. 1 Guilford (22-5) with 16 points, including two free throws with 11 seconds left for the game's final points. Dominique Henderson added 14 points for the Quakers, who will face Emory and Henry for the championship Sunday.

CIAA final: Ahmaad Wilson had 20 points as Bowie State defeated Winston-Salem State 62-54 in Charlotte, N.C., to win the CIAA tournament.